Agnieszka Rynkiewicz

An outstanding specialist in psychiatry and an expert in the diagnosis and therapy of autism (ASC). She is professionally associated with the Department of Psychiatry Collegium Medicum of the University of Rzeszów. She graduated in medical studies at the Medical Academy in Gdańsk (now Gdańsk Medical University). She completed her specialization in psychiatry in clinical centers in Gdańsk and additionally passed medical examinations entitling her to practice medical professions in the United States of America (USA). She also completed her Master's degree in Special Education from Seattle Pacific University in the USA, and gained professional experience at Seattle Children's Hospital, Brain Center for Applied Learning Research, Edmonds School District, and leading research and clinical centers in the UK, Canada and the USA, among others.

She is the first doctor and researcher from Poland to be appointed by the Scientific Council of INSAR (International Society for Autism Research) to the position of Global Senior Leader for Poland (two terms for 2019—2026).

She is the co-author of the world's first diagnostic tool (2011) targeting girls and women with autism — Girls' Questionnaire for Autism Spectrum Conditions (GQ-ASC/Q-ASC), co-created with Prof. Tony Attwood and Dr. Michelle Garnett. He has been involved in the development of diagnostic tools for years; he is an international certified ADOS-2 trainer and a certified diagnostician, among others ADOS-2, ADI-R, STAT, BOSA and BOSCC. She co-created the Polish versions of STAT and BOSA diagnostic tools and the innovative EmotiPlay therapeutic platform for children with ASD as part of the ASC-Inclusion project.

She conducts research, among others, on intersex differences in the clinical picture of autism in girls and women, for which she was awarded by the University of Cambridge, the Autism Research Trust and INSAR in 2016. She is the author and co-author of numerous scientific publications in prestigious journals, presenting the current state of knowledge on new diagnostic criteria, diagnostic tools, concomitant psychopathology, pharmacotherapy and non-pharmacological forms of therapy in autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

She was awarded the Enable Award 2014 for the developer of new ICT tools supporting people with disabilities in the UK. She is the founder and leader of the first ECHO Autism model in Poland and a laureate of Prof. Walczak's NAWA 2020 competition.

Her many years of clinical, research and teaching activities are aimed at improving the quality of diagnosis, therapy and education of neurodiverse people and introducing real changes in the recognition and support of girls and women on the autism spectrum in Poland and in the world.